A30189:615
An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of the English…An answer to two treatises of Mr. Iohn Can, the leader of the English…
An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of the English Brownists in Amsterdam the former called, A necessity of separation from the Church of England, proved by the Nonconformists principles : the other, A stay against straying : wherein in opposition to M. John Robinson, he undertakes to prove the unlawfulness of hearing the ministers of the Church of England ... / by the late learned, laborious and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, John Ball.An answer to two treatises of Mr. Iohn Can, the leader of the English Brownists in Amsterdam the former called, A necessitie of separation from the Church of England, proved by the Nonconformists principles : the other, A stay against straying : wherein in opposition to M. Iohn Robinson, he undertakes to prove the unlawfulnesse of hearing the ministers of the Church of England ... / by the late learned, laborious and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, John Ball.
London: printed by R.B., 1642
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. I.
IT may be some will expect that I should write something of their Lecturers; 1and the rather because they in the judgement of many, are thought to be the best Ministers. Of their life and doctrine I say nothing. But as for their Ministry, surely it is new and strange. For the Original of their name, manner of entrance, and Administration, is unknown wholly to the Scriptures, and I think never before heard of, till in these latter broken and confused times. Therefore it is no marvel, when the Question hath been propounded to some of them, as it was by the Pharisees to John, Who art thou? That they have not been able for their life to answer ⟨p. 83⟩to answer the point. Neither could agree among themselves what kind of Ministry it is that they have taken up. And being hard pressed for resolution, they have ingenuously confessed, that unless they be Evangelists, they could not see how their Ministry doth accord with any Ministry mentioned in the New Testament. This I write upon my own certain knowledge, the persons I think are yet living, whose names for some reason I forbear to express. Howbeit, I can and will do it if I see there be a just and necessary occasion.
IT may be some will expect that I should write something of their Lecturers; 1and the rather because they in the judgement of many, are thought to be the best Ministers. Of their life and doctrine I say nothing. But as for their Ministery, surely it is new and strange. For the Originall of their name, manner of entrance, and Administration, is unknowne wholly to the Scriptures, and I thinke never before heard of, till in these latter broken and confused times. Therefore it is no marvell, when the Question hath beene propounded to some of them, as it was by the Pharisees to John, Who art thou? That they have not been able for their life to answer ⟨p. 83⟩